Many people live on a diet of fast foods, and beverages like diet drinks and ’softened’ water (water in which all the minerals have been removed). As a result, they are not receiving many important minerals that are necessary to maintaining good health. The following is a quick reference guide on certain important minerals that are vital to people and can be obtained by common vitamin and mineral supplements available in most pharmacies and health products stores.

Calcium (Ca) or calcium carbonate: An important mineral for building and maintaining strong bones and healthy teeth. Calcium supplements are obtainable in pill or capsule form and can even be found in many antacid products (Tums, etc.) where the main ingredient is calcium carbonate. Calcium supplement are often found together with vitamin and multivitamin products. If taken in this manner, it is advisable to make sure that enough calcium (at least 300 milligrams, ) is included. Calcium is often found together with vitamin C (an excellent anti-oxidant) and vitamin D (recommended for strong bones).

Iron (Fe): Iron is one of the most common minerals and an important mineral for maintaining good health. Iron helps oxygenate red blood cells and sufficient amounts of iron in the body is necessary for a high blood hemoglobin count which ;prevents the body from becoming fatigued. Pregnant and nursing mothers need higher amounts of iron than others. It is ingested with foods such as liver and red meat products, and in a number of vegetables, especially spinach. If not obtained from food, vitamin supplements containing iron are readily available, as well as many food products into which iron and other vitamins and minerals have been added.

Sodium (Na) is one of the most common minerals in the body, and is required for proper regulation of blood and other body fluids, such as lymph tissue. It is important for heart and nerve activity and various metabolic functions. While sodium is required by animals, including humans, it is not needed by plants, and can even be harmful to them. Sodium’s most common way to ingestion is via common table salt, and it is found in many food products including soy sauce and extracts. Too much sodium can be harmful, however, especially among those suffering from cardio vascular problems.

Magnesium (Mg): This mineral is the third most important element found in sea water and is the 4th most important element in the human body as essential to all living cells.
If not taken naturally in foods such as fish (halibut, tuna, etc) fruits and vegetables (artichokes, beans, bananas, dried figs) as well as whole grains, it can also be taken in vitamin supplements such as magnesium oxide and magnesium gluconate, usually available in tablet form. Some antacids, such as Milk of Magnesia also contain high amounts of magnesium.

Stressful living and increasing alcohol consumption are often the result of an inability to cope with the increasing challenges of today’s hectic life styles. When people are living under an undue amount of stress, often as a result of family and financial problems, it is very tempting for people to find momentary relief by simply “taking a drink”. Not only does this “quick fix” solution not work, it usually results in eventual crises problems such as alcoholism, violence, and inability to function on any kind of semblance of normality.

Heavy drinking not only impairs a person from performance in a work environment, it also results a number of physiological changes that eventually lead to serious mental and physical conditions that can result in permanent incapacity or death. And for those who are already suffering from the effects of stress, excessive drinking only aggravates an already serious condition.

Children of parents who drink are affected by the double effects of stress and abnormal behavior. Cases of parental abuse brought on by heavy drinking are common occurrences, and can lead to extreme case of violence, resulting in physical injury and even death. Many cases of child beating, especially in infants and small children are often the result of severe stress combined with excessive drinking. Many children even begin to drink themselves, in order to ‘escape’ the intolerable living conditions that they are subjected to.

Another problem brought on by heavy drinking is a lack of desire by the drinker to undertake any form of physical activity. Heavy drinking is also connected with overeating, as the alcohol in the systems numbs the feeling of fullness and results in the person eating even more.

Medical research has proven that heavy consumption of alcohol stimulates the lease of certain hormones, especially by the hypothalamus, adrenal and pituitary glands. These hormones actually aggregate stress reactions and make then worse. Chronic drinking also results in the release of high amounts of adrenalin into the body which result in creased amounts of stress. And increased alcohol consumption also cause a person to lose inhibitions and participate in harmful activities such as gambling or dangerous activities such as skydiving or car racing.

The bottom line is that stress and alcohol simply do not mix. Treatments by psychologists try to eliminate the need to drink as a way to cope with stress.

Many people recall that song sung at the finale for the rock musical Hair: “Let The Sunshine In”. When going to the beach, an outdoor swimming pool, or even lying on your back porch sundeck, it is a very good idea not let too much of the sunshine in – especially to your skin. Many people, especially at the beginning of the summertime beach season, are in a hurry to acquire what is known as a deep, coppery colored suntan. Whether or not you can acquire a proper suntan will depend on your skin’s pigmentation ability to acquire that lovely “Coppertone Tan” as is so often advertised on TV.

Some people, especially those with very fair skin (redheads, etc.) simply cannot acquire a proper tan no matter how much they expose themselves. In fact, overexposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays, especially for “palefaces” can be harmful and downright dangerous. When a person becomes overexposed to the sun, a condition most commonly known as ’sunburn’ develops. Sunburn occurs when the pigmentation in the skin, known as melanin, rises to the skin’s surface, resulting in a reddish pink color, which in severe case is actually a second degree burn. Besides the change in skin color, and accompanying discomfort, other symptoms of acute sunburn include headache, faintness, and nausea, accompanied by severe dehydration.

Treatment for moderate to severe case of sunburn includes immersing the body in a mixture of cold water and vinegar (an ‘old wives’ remedy that still works) and gently rubbing either a good quality body lotion into the affected areas; especially a lotion or cream specifically designed to treat cases of wind or sunburn. Since sunburn is actually a body burn, no less harmful than being burned by a hot object or fire, the effected top skin epidermal layer dies and later peels off in a similar manner as a reptile shedding its skin. Aloe vera based skin creams and lotions are also very good for sunburn.

Even dark complexioned people can develop sunburn; and in particular because they may tend to be exposed to sunlight for longer periods, thinking that their dark skin is really protecting them.

Proper tanning, which can also be done by laying on a tanning board under ultraviolet lighting, should be done slowly and for just a few minutes per session. A good tanning lotion, cream, or spray should be used which protects you from UVA and UVB categories of ultraviolet light (UVA being the sun’s rays) and with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15. If tanning at the beach or pool, the suntan preparation should be re-applied after you go into the water – even for a few moments.

Taking care of one’s skin is very important in today’s world of depleted ozone layers and enhanced sunlight. The consequences of overexposure to the sun’s rays may only show up 10 to 15 years later with skin cancer or melanoma, which can disfigure and in some cases even kill people.

Remember, when “letting the sunshine in” it’s better to be safe than sorry.